Method and apparatus for allocating processing in a network

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for allocating processing in a network, a processing request is received. It is determined if a first processing node in the network is capable of handling the processing request. If the first processing node is incapable of handling the processing request alone, one or more additional processing nodes from the network are allocated to assist in handling the processing request.

1 . A method of allocating processing in a network, said method comprising: 
 receiving a processing request;    determining if a first processing node in said network is capable of handling said processing request; and    allocating one or more additional processing nodes from said network to assist in handling said processing request if said first processing node is incapable of handling said processing request alone.    
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said method of allocating processing in a network further comprises distributing processing of at least a portion of said processing request to said allocated one or more additional processing nodes.  
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said method of allocating processing in a network further comprises continuing to allocate said additional processing nodes until a sufficient processing capability is allocated to perform said processing request or else all processing nodes available in said network are exhausted.  
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said allocating one or more additional processing nodes further comprises: 
 populating said one or more additional nodes with intelligence required to perform said processing request.    
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said determining if said first processing node in said network is capable of handling said processing request comprises determining if said first processing node has access to software applications required to perform said processing request.  
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said allocating one or more additional processing nodes from said network to assist in handling said processing request if said first processing node is incapable of handling said processing request alone comprises allocating said one or more additional processing nodes based on results of weighted rules applied to metadata of said one or more additional processing nodes, said metadata comprising software application capabilities and throughput capacity indicators of said available processing nodes.  
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 6  wherein said allocating said one or more additional processing nodes based on results of weighted rules applied to metadata of said one or more additional processing nodes comprises receiving said metadata from one or more processing nodes within a peer-to-peer network.  
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 6  wherein said allocating said one or more additional processing nodes based on results of weighted rules applied to metadata of available processing nodes comprises receiving said requested metadata from a directory server in said network.  
   
   
       9 . A computer useable medium having computer-readable program code stored thereon for causing a computer system to execute a method of allocating processing in a network, said method comprising: 
 utilizing results of weighted rules applied to metadata to allocate said processing to perform a processing request;    allocating a first processing node to perform said processing request; and    continuing to allocate one or more additional processing nodes to at least partially assist said first processing node in handling said processing request, if said first processing node is incapable of handling said processing request alone.    
   
   
       10 . The computer-useable medium of  claim 9  wherein said continuing to allocate one or more additional processing nodes to at least partially assist said first processing node in handling said processing request comprises computer-readable code for causing said computer system to cease allocation of said one or more additional processing nodes when sufficient processing capability is allocated to perform said processing request or else all available processing nodes in said network are exhausted.  
   
   
       11 . The computer-useable medium of  claim 9  wherein said utilizing results of weighted rules applied to metadata to allocate said processing to perform a processing request comprises computer-readable code for causing said computer system to retrieve metadata about each processing node from a central directory computer in said network.  
   
   
       12 . The computer-useable medium of  claim 9  wherein said utilizing results of weighted rules applied to metadata to allocate said processing to perform a processing request comprises computer-readable code for causing said computer system to retrieve metadata about said processing nodes from one or more said processing nodes in said network.  
   
   
       13 . The computer-useable medium of  claim 9  wherein said utilizing results of weighted rules applied to metadata to allocate said processing to perform a processing request comprises computer-readable code for causing said computer system to retrieve metadata about throughput capacity indicators of said processing nodes.  
   
   
       14 . The computer-useable medium of  claim 9  wherein said utilizing results of weighted rules applied to metadata to allocate said processing to perform a processing request comprises computer-readable code for causing said computer system to retrieve metadata about software application capabilities of said processing nodes.  
   
   
       15 . The computer-useable medium of  claim 9  wherein said utilizing results of weighted rules applied to metadata to allocate said processing to perform a processing request comprises computer-readable code for causing said computer system to populate said one or more additional nodes with intelligence required to perform said processing request.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for allocating processing in a network, said apparatus comprising: 
 a processing request receiver for receiving a processing request;    a processing capability determiner for determining if a first processing node in said network is capable of handling said processing request; and    a processing node allocator for allocating one or more additional processing nodes from said network to assist in handling said processing request if said first processing node is incapable of handling said processing request alone.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said apparatus for allocating processing in said network comprises a processing request distributor for distributing at least a portion of said processing request from said first processing node to said allocated one or more additional processing nodes.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said processing capability determiner for determining if said first processing node in said network is capable of handling said processing request further comprises determining if said first processing node has access to software applications required to perform said processing request.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said processing node allocator for allocating said one or more additional processing nodes further comprises continuing to allocate said additional processing nodes until a sufficient processing capability is allocated to perform said processing request or else all said processing nodes available in said network are exhausted.  
   
   
       20 . A method of allocating processing in a network, said method comprising: 
 receiving a processing request;    determining if a first processing node in said network is available to handling said processing request; and    allocating one or more additional processing nodes from said network to assist in handling said processing request if said first processing node is incapable of handling said processing request alone, wherein said allocating further comprises populating said one or more additional nodes with intelligence required to perform said processing request.    
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said method of allocating processing in a network further comprises distributing processing of at least a portion of said processing request to said allocated one or more additional processing nodes.  
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said method of allocating processing in a network further comprises continuing to allocate said additional processing nodes and populating said one or more additional nodes with intelligence required to perform said processing request until a sufficient processing capability is allocated to perform said processing request or else all processing nodes available in said network are exhausted.  
   
   
       23 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said determining if said first processing node in said network is capable of handling said processing request comprises determining if said first processing node has access to software applications required to perform said processing request.  
   
   
       24 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said allocating one or more additional processing nodes from said network to assist in handling said processing request if said first processing node is incapable of handling said processing request alone comprises allocating said one or more additional processing nodes and populating said one or more additional nodes with intelligence required to perform said processing request based on results of weighted rules applied to metadata of said one or more additional processing nodes, said metadata comprising software application capabilities and throughput capacity indicators of said available processing nodes.  
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein said allocating said one or more additional processing nodes based on results of weighted rules applied to metadata of said one or more additional processing nodes comprises receiving said metadata from one or more processing nodes within a peer-to-peer network.  
   
   
       26 . The method as recited in  claim 24  wherein said allocating said one or more additional processing nodes based on results of weighted rules applied to metadata of available processing nodes comprises receiving said requested metadata from a directory server in said network.